It's often opined that no one should talk about religion or politics and there are a number of situations where that might be a good idea. On the other hand, my answer to that bit of wisdom has always been to say that if we were to never talk about religion or politics, everyone would go to hell and the politicians would see to it we all got their sooner than we'd like.
I've been a student of politics and religion as long as I can remember. In numerous cases and circumstances, they manage to cross and blur the lines. Sometimes they merge in obvious ways, and sometimes they merge in not so obvious ways. The obvious, of course, is in a theocracy. The Vatican is an example that comes readily to mind. The entirety of the Vatican is run by the Pope and his Cardinals. The Cardinals, sometimes referred to as the "Princes of the Church", run the various civil and religious departments within the Vatican. That is perhaps the most obvious way the lines cross.
One less obvious way is when a group of believers try to influence policy. Fundamentalist Christian groups would be against abortion or some religious group might demand an exemption from public law. An example would be a group demanding to be allowed to practice polygamy. Whenever faith and politics collide on whatever the particular adherents see as a moral issue, politics and religion collide.
Perhaps the least obvious way is when a politician starts to become deified. We call that a "personality cult". We saw it was Stalin and Lenin. We see it in the Kim dynasty of North Korea and with the infamous Chairman Mao in China. More recently, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela is attempting such a goal. Most often, it's is the politician that encourages and develops the idea in order to keep and expand his power and reach, sometimes it's his followers that start it and he then nurtures. (No woman that I can think of ever achieved "personality cult" status).
Enter the Apostle Barack.
We on the right have complained since his nomination that Obama was more anointed then selected in the primaries. The press has absolutely gone gaga over him and remains one of his staunchest defenders. No scandal or misstep seems to touch him. Indeed, he is the "Teflon President". Nothing will stick. Not only is our press seemingly enamored with Obama, it seems his followers are as well.
Never in my lifetime have I seen the personality cult applied to a US President. Children's songs such as this are posted on YouTube:
I don't care what your political persuasion is, that should scare you just a little bit. That reminds me of kids in a North Korean classroom singing about the "Dear Leader". To my knowledge, no Republican President has ever been idolized in a children's song like that. (Nor should they ever be!) We conservatives often tend to revere Ronald Reagan (and admittedly, I do. He is one of my heroes.) and he was a great man. Just like every other man that rose to be President of the US, he had his flaws and he made his mistakes. But his accomplishments and character make him worthy to be counted among the other great Presidents of our history. No child should sing a song such as the above to honor President Reagan and I would argue that Reagan changed the world in ways which only Obama could only dream.
Perhaps one could excuse over-enthusiastic parents and teachers. They want to see their guy win. Perhaps it was never their intention to make it seem like a NoKo classroom despite the walls painted with the O symbol and in truth, there is nothing in the song that implies deity status. It's disturbing, none the less.
Enter Professor Dr. Barbara A. Thompson from Florida A&M University and her first major theological work: The Gospel According to Apostle Barack
Yes, you read that correctly and no, it is not a work of satire or fiction. Dr. Thompson says this about here epistle to the faithful:
Yes, Barack had worked tirelessly on behalf of the American people, especially those who elected him in 2008. His followers needed to re-elect him to a second term, so that he could continue to accomplish the promises he made, thus, realizing his vision of America as a more perfect political union or "heaven here on earth" Then, as I began to contemplate ways to assist Barack in his 2012 re-election bid something miraculous happened. I felt God's (His) Spirit beckoning me in my dreams at night. Listening, cautiously, I learned that Jesus walked the earth to create a more civilized society, Martin (Luther King) walked the earth to create a more justified society, but, Apostle Barack, the name he was called in my dreams, would walk the earth to create a more equalized society, for the middle class and working poor. Apostle Barack, the next young leader with a new cause, had been taken to the mountaintop and allowed to see over the other side. He had the answers to unlock the kingdom of "heaven here on earth" for his followers. The answers were repeated - over and over - in speeches Barack had made from his presidential announcement to his inaugural address. Those speeches or his teachings contained the answers to the middle class and working poor people living in a "heaven here on earth" For when the answers were unlocked and enacted, Apostle Barack's vision of America would be realized.
He has been given the "answers to unlock heaven on earth". In Amazon's About the Author (which was probably written by her since it was self-published.) It says:
Further, it is the intent of the Author to utilize the materials contained in the speeches as a means of teaching Apostle Barack's followers about him and guiding them towards understanding "politics as religion" and "religion as politics" The manuscript would also serve as a guide for his followers - to unlock the answers - to creating and living in the reality of a middle class lifestyle that was so economically and ethically sound that it appeared to be "heaven here on earth"
Her goal is "guiding them towards understanding 'politics as religion' and 'religion as politics'". Scary.
It's scary that anyone would think that way. It's scary someone that educated would write that schlock.
Her book is #373,547 on the best seller list which is to say that if she's sold more than ten, it would be a surprise. I'm probably giving it way more attention than it deserves.
The bottom line is that no politician is deserving of this sort idolization. He's just another man and not even adequate for the job at that! Dr. Thompson is a dupe and a fool. Obama's and his Socialist ilk would laugh and call her a "useful idiot".
And she is an idiot.
Yup...scary as hell.
Posted by: JennoftheJungle | Sunday, November 11, 2012 at 21:29